Homemade Larabars

I just found this recipe for homemade "Larabars" from ChocolateCoveredKatie.com (my favorite healthy dessert blog)! These bars are gluten free, quick, no bake and healthy too! I gave them a try the other day and highly recommend them if you are a fan of Larabars.

Here is the basic recipe with some of my own slight variations:

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup organic raisins (80g) (i buy mine from Costco)
12 tbsp quick oats (30g) (I used Old Fashioned)
1 cup walnuts (40g)
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract OPTIONAL: You may also add a shake or two of cinnamon OR ground ginger OR a dab or two of pnut butter OR a few mini dark chocolate chips – just have fun and experiment!!!

DIRECTIONS:

Pulverize the oats in a food processor, ( I used my VitaMix,) then add all other ingredients and blend very well. (It goes very quickly in the VitaMix – as soon as the motor starts groaning stop and finish stirring by hand with a long spatula.) Transfer dough to parchment paper. Form into balls or bars. (If making bars, put down parchment paper, put dough on top and add another piece of parchment. Roll with roller to desired thickness.)

Depending on thickness desired it will make approximately 6 Larabar-sized (45g) bars—or twelve thin strips. The bars last at least two weeks in the fridge. They can also be frozen. ENJOY!!!